Private Alex Whitelaw

Private Alex Francis Whitelaw, 5th Battalion Canadian Infantry. He was killed in action near Ypres on 6th March 1916 age 23. Initially he was buried at Rosenbergh Chateau but after the War the landowner ( absolute ingrate !! ) objected to the cemetery on his land and in 1930 Private Whitelaw’s body was moved to Berks. Cemetery Extension, Ploegstreet, Belgium.   He was the son of Eliazbeth Whitelaw, Yetholm Mill, Kelso and the late Thomas B. Whitelaw and had emigrated to Saskatchewan, Canada before the War. His Headstone is inscribed ” Son Of The Late Thomas Whitelaw, Farmer Yetholm Mill, Kelso & Of Elizabeth Whitelaw”. Before enlisting in December 1914 he had been employed as a labourer at Minnedosa, Manitoba